35hp '76 johnson won't fire

[tecke]

I just bought a 35hp '76 johnson OB (model 35E76G). It started, worked fine. Then two things happened. #1, my switched power shorted out and blew the 20A fuse- no problem there, I removed the short and replaced the fuse. #2 This is my first outboard and the folks I bought it from told me nothing about the 50:1 mix - I should have known, but did not think right. So we are at the dock and I did not have the fuel line in and it fired up until it used the fuel that was already in it. Then I saw that I did not have the fuel line plugged in, so I plugged it in and tried to start and it would not fire. This was probably a good thing, since it was straight gas. Anyway- now I have the mix right, drained, cleaned and the spark plugs are getting a good spark, the starter motor turns the flywheel, but it is not firing. I have read that there is are several kill switches, but if I am getting spark, that should rule that out, right? I do not have a manual. Anything else I should check .

 

[dmessy]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Try this.. pull the plugs, ground them and check for spark, got spark? great! This is twofold,1) to make sure its got ignition and 2) to clear out any unspent fuel in the cylinders.<br />Next, compression, sounds like you've covered that base.<br />Next, exhaust, pretty straight forward on a 2 stroke.<br />Finally, squirt some premix directly into the throat of the carb(s) then turn it over. It should run or at least pop a few times. When you connected the fuel line did you pump up the primer bulb. Let us know what happens by adding a reply to this post. GOD LUCK and have a great Memorial Day.

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

dmessy, thanks for the reply. <br />I grounded both spark plugs and both do get spark. <br />I did not do a compression check; I do not have a gauge- putting my finger over the spark plug hole I can feel compression. Should I invest in a gauge? <br />I tried squirting some carb/choke cleaner in the throat of the carb, but no pop. I even opened up both butterflys and squirted some in and still nothing.<br />When I connected the fuel line I did pump the primer until it was full.<br />I am still stumped.<br />You have a great Memorial Day also! I'd be having a much better one if I could leave the dock.

 

[Boatist]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Welcome to the boating world. Since you are new want to make sure you know not to run motor without water to water pump in lower unit. Impeller will melt if ran without water even for a few seconds. Use the ear muff or put in tank with water over the caviation plate. Ok you have spark and it ran with fuel that was in bowl. Do not use carb cleaner as a starting fuel it really does not burn very well. Here is what I would try. Choke engine or prim and give it a few cranks. If it does not start pull plugs and see if wet with fuel. If Wet it may be flooded. Could have a problem with the float. Remove fuel line to engine blow off plugs and crank the engine a little with out plugs. OPen throttle as high as can go in neutral and try it again. If it starts let it run a bit then connect fuel line if it dies then check float in carb. If when you pull plugs they are dry squirt some fuel in cylinders put the plugs and see if starts. If it does check fuel filter in tank line and in motor. Pump fuel line again and try again it plugs dry again it back to carb float again. Do not use carb cleaner as starting fluid that stuff does not burn well at all. Good luck and let us know how you come out.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Sorry if I mssed the fact that someone else caught it but.<br /><br />After you run out of gas you need to squeeze the rubber bulb on the fuel line to get the fuel pump primed and ready to work again. Then hit the choke while you crank it just enough till it fires off.

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Thanks to all that replied. <br /><br />When I did what Boatist (yes, I am using a muff- thanks- that is a good thing to see- esp after my stupidity of not using the right oil/fuel mix) said, it did fire up, so my task was to check the float. Well the float was way out- I cleaned the carb while I had it out and adjusted the float so it was parallel as I saw in an online service manual. This carb looks like brand new inside- I was happy to see that- no gum or residue. Put it back in and it still would not start, but I noticed that the linkage going to the carb was NOT standard- there were missing parts and some badly bent links. I opened up the outside butterfly a little and then I got it to start up reliably. By moving the choke solenoid, I could get it to idle okay. Not what I want to be out on the water with, but the long weekend was almost over, so I had to take it out to try it. <br /><br />What I have now is a motor that will idle fine, but at full throttle, it still is going at idle speed. I even unhookedthe throttle cable and pushed the external control all the way back by hand, but it would not go any faster.<br /><br />Does anybody have a picture of what the correct carb linkage should be? <br /><br />I also noticed that the choke solenoid was not moving at all. I got about 3+volts on the terminal when it was suppose to engage. Is that right, or should I be seeing 12V? I dont know if it is a bad choke solenoid or not the correct voltage. It may just be a bad sol that is shorting... anybody have any ideas there?<br /><br />I am hoping that with a picture of the carb linage and my choke problem, I can be out on the water next week again....<br /><br />Thanks again! tecke<br />btw- no fish tonight- I did have a doosy on the line though- I've gotta fix the drag on my reel, but one project at a time.

 

[fireman 757]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

When you throttled it up by hand and still ran at idle speed did your rpms increase or not. Sounds like your advance is not working properly.

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

fireman, thanks for the reply- yes the rpms increased when there was no load. But in the water, it would hardly go in gear without bogging down.<br /><br />I did get two shop manuals for it. <br /><br />whoever worked on it before removed the linkage between the choke and the thottle lever and adjusted the choke sol out just a bit. The manuals do not give specs on the linkage betwwen the thotle lever and the choke- can anybody give me a measurement? or is there a better book ( I got the clymer and the intertec) out there?<br /><br />There are a few things I need to check/adjust according to the manual. <br /><br />Thanks for all of the help from everyone.<br /><br />I'll reply to this thread after I go by the book.<br />-tecke

 

[fireman 757]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

I just went through this exact same engine with the exact same problem. There is an aluminun plate that fits behind the mister (the big white plastic thing over the carb). You might be able to find it at used boats part place on internet.Your manual choke fits in a slot on this piece. This might not be your problem as you should still be able to manually choke it. Disconnect the wire on your automatic choke. I had to replace the drive coil ($20) under the flywheel. It is the one with 2 pickups. The one with five pickups is your charging coil. Also I had a wire that was only partially in a new ignition coil. Never suspected it wasn't making good contact because it felt tight. You also might have a bad ignition coil ($40) that is breaking down under a load. Once I got this done it started by just "bumping" the key. No choke needed.<br />Let me know what you find out. I've been totally through this engine and it had me and a dealer stumped but I beat it!!!

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

fireman, thanks for the post. I do have the alum plate that fits behind the mister. I took the choke sol out and that baby is locked up- it was a dead short- I isolated it and tried to get it to actuate,I got some nice sparks, but no luck- I guess I am either going to use manual choke if I need it for now.<br /><br />I did pick up a compression gauge and I am getting 120 on each cyl. <br /><br />I constructed a linkage out of a straightened out piece of a swag lamp chain; that is the piece that was missing. Any chance on getting you to measure yours and give me a distance from bend to bend? I went through about three chain links trying to get one right, and I am still not sure if it is the right length or not. It seems to follow the throttle okay, but I would feel better if I knew what the specs were suppose to be.<br /><br />I am still looking over the books, and checking things as I get time.....

 

[fireman 757]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

The linkage to the flywheel is approx. 2" the lower two linkages are bent at approx 1.75". Hope this solves your problem. Sorry I didn't get a chance to reply sooner.if you need a # try 812-985-3637.

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Fireman, thanks again for the reply. No need to apologize, I really do appreciate the help! <br /><br />I tried putting the linkage in, but it seems to always choke the engine out. So I just removed it.<br /><br />I found a major problem while looking over the engine. The fuel line was kinked. I replaced that and removed the linkage to the choke- only using the manual choke. <br /><br />I also replaced all the gaskets that I could and rechecked the float in the carb. One thing to note- I did notice that the spring in the needle valve was VERY loose. I tightened it up so the needle follows the float.<br /><br />The engine runs at full throttle now, but I am having the lunging problem. I saw some other posts on that subject, so I'll look into that further. My son and I took it out, and aside from almost ripping the transom off with the lunging, it worked okay- it did bog down one time, but I figured that was just a fuel anomaly.<br /><br />Thanks again to all that helped me out!<br /><br />tecke@yahoo.com

 

[fireman 757]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

You need to rebuild your carb or at least clean out your high speed jet. This is the real long one that seats into the bowl. You might get lucky and be able to blow it out with air but most likely you will want to remove it and soak it good in cleaner. If you have any speck in there it will not work properly. Let me know.<br /><br />also remind your son to put the plug in.

 

[fireman 757]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Are we done with this thread yet? I hope you are back on the water. Let me know so I quit checking your post. Hate to leave someone hanging.

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Fireman, sorry for not responding sooner. Yes, we can close out this thread. The motor is working fine now (at least today.)<br /><br />Thanks again! <br />tecke@yahoo.com

 

[fireman 757]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Just out of curiosity, what was it?

 

[tecke]

Re: 35hp '76 johnson won't fire

Well, there were several problems: the electric choke solenoid was stuck in the closed position- I removed it and am only using manual choke. The second problem was the original fuel line was badly kinked - I replaced it. The other problem was in the carb the spring on the needle was way loose - I tightened it up. The motor ran okay the last time I took it out. I am having some lower unit problems unrelated to this thread, but hopefully some new o-rings will fix me up there.<br /><br />Thanks, tecke